How to dry apples at home: useful tips ::

Apples have been dried since ancient times. It is this method of harvesting fruit for the winter that is considered one of the best, since it allows you to preserve the greatest amount of vitamins and minerals that are lost during heat treatment. But only with proper drying is it possible.

In the old days, fruits were dried in direct sunlight. They were put away in a cool place at night. It took a whole week to complete the process completely. Unfortunately, this method is not available to modern housewives. Urban conditions do not allow its use.

Preparing apples

In this article, we will show you how to dry apples at home.

So, we pick up apples. Of course, fruits plucked from the trees in your garden work best. But if this is not possible, then the apples bought in the store must be thoroughly washed beforehand. You can use water mixed with vinegar. This solution works well with dirt and pest control chemicals, and is often used to extend shelf life as well.

We remove the core. Remove the skin from later varieties. Early varieties are dried along with it, since the peel allows you to preserve nutrients. If you use a special tool, the cleaning process will be easy and quick.

Cut the apple into slices. A trace element such as iron oxidizes when interacting with air, so the lobules can quickly darken. To avoid this, they are immediately immersed in salted water. Blanching also preserves color. The slices are dipped in hot water. But it should be remembered that when blanching, part of the acid and sugar contained in the apple is lost. If you replace this method with a steam bath, you will be able to preserve all the vitamins, and besides, drying will be faster. Pour the slices into a sieve or colander and hold over boiling water (10 minutes), and then cool under cold.

What are the benefits of dried apples?

The benefits of dried apples for the human body are diverse due to their rich vitamin and mineral composition. Drying the fruit gives it additional benefits - the fruit becomes richer in catechins, essential oils and flavonoids. Dried fruit, rich in flavonoids, is able to protect against the harmful spectrum of ultraviolet rays, works as an antioxidant, and saves cells from premature destruction.

What are the benefits of dried apples for certain diseases:

Anemia. The iron content can prevent disease and help restore the normal balance of the mineral in the blood.
Iodine deficiency. Dried fruit contains 13 times more iodine than citrus fruits. The product is useful for diffuse goiter.
High sugar and cholesterol levels. Due to the content of pectins, dried fruit improves metabolism, lowers high cholesterol, and is able to lower blood glucose levels.
Constipation. Concentrated fiber gently cleanses the intestines, ridding the body of accumulated deposits. With regular consumption, peristalsis improves.
Hypertension. Dried apples can reduce blood pressure and, with constant use, keep them at the optimal levels for humans.
Magnesium deficiency. The content of this mineral in the dried fruit helps to reduce nervousness, remove insomnia. With increased emotional and physical stress, the consumption of dried fruit is able to work as an anti-stress.
Ailments of the stomach and intestines. The use of homemade dried apples consists in a reduced acid content, which is dangerous for erosive gastritis, ulcers, and esophagitis. It is important to be in moderation and eat no more than a few bites a day.
Heart problems. Dried fruit cannot cure, but it can saturate the body with potassium, which is important for the full functioning of the heart muscle.
Obesity. The calorie content of dried apples without sugar is much lower than that of sweets, which allows them to be eaten instead of sugar-containing foods.
Colds. Phytoncides work as an antibacterial agent. Regular consumption during the season of colds will reduce their risk, improve the body's immune response.

Also, the benefits of well-dried fruits are as follows:

Reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke by improving vascular patency and removing bad cholesterol.
The activation of metabolism, which improves bowel function, helps to reduce weight.
Increasing the absorption of iron. Eating dry apples can improve the absorption of iron from other fruits or meats as well.
Reducing the risk of malignant pathologies due to the high content of antioxidants.
Strengthening the immune system and protecting against infections thanks to phytoncides.
Increased calcium content, which improves the condition of tooth enamel and strengthens bone tissue. Reduces the likelihood of osteoporosis.
Improving the structure of the nail plate and the condition of the hair.
Reducing swelling and normalizing kidney function.
Increased concentration and stress resistance.
The product will benefit a nursing mother and a woman during pregnancy due to the richest composition of nutrients, they will pass to the baby through the placenta or milk. Dried and dried fruits will not cause allergic reactions in mother and child.
Reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Dried apple fruits are good for the elderly due to their high content of vitamins and amino acids.

Natural drying

Natural drying is considered one of the best and optimal ways. The slices are strung on a thread, a stick, you can use a skewer or just pour a thin layer on paper. In direct sunlight, the fruit is dried for 5-6 days, periodically turning over. At high temperatures, the process can be shortened to 3-4 days. Summer apples are used.

But this method is not suitable for everyone. There is not enough sun in the northern regions. It is impossible to do this in urban conditions. In addition, polluted city air will turn dried fruits not into a source of vitamins, but into a product saturated with poisons. This method is more suitable for residents of the south, living in an ecologically clean region (cottage, country house, village).

How many calories are in dried apples?

Dried fruit is a concentrated product and contains 253 kcal, instead of 25 in fresh fruit. Nutritional value of dry apples per 100 g of pulp:

carbohydrates - 59 grams;
fats - 0.1 grams;
proteins - 2.5 grams;
38.4 grams of water and various nutrients.

The dried fruit contains 56 grams of sugars in the form of poly- and monosaccharides, 3.5 grams of starchy substances, 15 grams of dietary fiber, 2.5 grams of organic acids. Sugar is present in the form of complex carbohydrates. A rich set of acids (tartaric, arabic, citric and malic) has a beneficial effect on metabolism. Basic vitamins per 100 g of dried fruit: tocopherol - 1 mg, thiamine - 0.02 mg, beta-carotene - 0.02 mg, ascorbic acid - 2 mg, riboflavin - 0.04 mg and vitamin A - 3 μg, pyridoxine - 0.125 mg ...

100 grams of apples are iron, potassium, calcium, sodium and phosphorus (1 mg, 580 mg, 112 mg, 12 mg and 77 μg, respectively). Also, the contents are rich in pectin and tannins.

When eating fruit, you need to remember how many kcal are in dried apples in order to prevent overeating.

Oven or Russian stove

Drying apples at home is a simple process, but it requires a special approach. You have to use various kitchen appliances, for example, an oven. The apples are poured onto a baking sheet and placed in a preheated oven. The temperature should not exceed 60 degrees. Slices, thus, dried for some time. Then the temperature rises to 80 degrees, which allows the water to evaporate. And at the final stage, we raise the heat to 100 degrees - the sterilization process. Be sure to turn the apples over several times. The oven is perfect for solving the problem of how to make apple dryers.

The Russian stove will also do a great job with this procedure. Some kind of ventilation is needed for the whole process to go right. This is easy when using an oven. It should be left open periodically. If a Russian stove is used, then a brick is placed under the damper, a gap is formed. The bricks can be laid out in the oven itself, a baking sheet is placed on them. This design allows for exhaust ventilation. Air, passing through the gap between the damper and the bricks, goes under the baking sheet and draws out moisture.

Can people on a diet eat dried apples?

Dried or dried apples are not a dietary food, but they certainly won't hurt in the weight loss process. They do not contain fast carbohydrates, which are the cause of fatty deposits. The complex sugars in the dried fruit do not slow down the metabolism.

If you follow a diet, such fruits:

Allows you to replace high-calorie sweets.
Eliminate excess fluid, which eliminates excess weight on the thighs.
Using a slice of fruit for a snack will saturate the body with calories, but will not affect the growth of body fat.

Microwave

Drying apples in the microwave is a very inconvenient way, since apples can only be laid out in one layer, which means that the process stretches over time. Cut slices are spread on a plate. Place it in the microwave. Dry by turning over for 3-4 minutes. The slices end up looking like chips. If the time of the process is increased, then the apples will simply burn. Drying apples in the microwave is a way for the patient.

Above were given tips on how to dry apples at home. Housewives will receive one more source of vitamins, which can be used to please the household in winter.

The harm of dried apples to health

Abuse of the product will lead to an increase in sugar levels, so diabetics need to use them with caution.

The acids in this fruit can harm some kidney diseases, so consultation with a doctor is required.

In case of inflammatory diseases of the stomach and intestines in the acute phase, it is better to refrain from the product. In no case should you eat fruits on an empty stomach, this can lead to nausea and heartburn.

To prevent harm to teeth, rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after consuming a dry product.

The note! If you follow a strict diet, it is better to replace raw fruit in its pure form with compote, most of the nutrients are retained there, but the calorie content is reduced.

Drying for the winter at home and outdoors

Most housewives prefer to dry apples at home, choosing the most ripe and beautiful fruits. There are a lot of drying methods, it is important to strictly follow the rules so that the blanks are not only tasty, but also retain useful substances.

It must be remembered that after processing the volume of fruit is reduced tenfold. So, from 10 kg of fresh fruit, 1 kg of dried apples is obtained.

In an electric dryer

Drying time: 2-3 hours
Below is how to make dried apples at home or in the country using an electric dryer.This is the easiest and fastest drying method. With the help of a kitchen assistant, large quantities of fruit can be dried in a short time. Sequencing:

Arrange the chopped apples evenly in trays;
set the temperature to at least 60 degrees;
dry for no more than 7 hours;
check the readiness of the fruit;
if moisture remains, dry for an additional 2 - 3 hours.

With this method of harvesting, apples do not burn and are not attacked by insects. They dry quickly and correctly.

In the oven: temperature and time

Drying time: 3 - 6 hours
The oven is ideal for drying fruit at home. It is carried out in the following sequence:

Preheat the oven to 85 degrees.
Cover baking trays or wire rack with parchment paper.
Spread the apples in a thin layer and place in the oven, leaving the door ajar.
After 2 hours, turn the slices over, and swap the baking sheets. This will help get rid of excess moisture.
After 3 hours, lower the temperature to 70 degrees.
As soon as the bulk of the moisture evaporates, reduce the temperature again to 50 degrees and leave the fruits to dry for 4 hours.

During this time, the fruit should dry completely. They become plastic, light brown in color and do not secrete juice.

If the oven has a convector that circulates air, then the process is significantly reduced in time. Apples are processed in a convection oven in the following sequence:

the oven is heated to 50 degrees;
install baking sheets with evenly spaced slices;
after 1.5 - 2 hours, the fruits are turned over and the temperature is increased to 70 degrees;
when the moisture evaporates, the temperature is reduced and the raw material is dried for two hours.

Total drying time, depending on the number of apples chopped. is 3 - 6 hours.

In the microwave

Drying time: 3 - 5 minutes per serving
Using a microwave oven, 5 - 7 kg of raw materials can be processed within an hour. In this case, the cooking process should be monitored so as not to overdry the fruits. Cooking steps:

put the cut fruits on a plate in an even layer;
set the minimum power for 30 seconds;
turn the apples and put in the oven;
set to maximum power and dry for 3 - 5 minutes.

During this time, the moisture should evaporate. If the fruit is not dry enough, it must be dried. The rest of the blanks must be processed, focusing on the preparation time of the first batch.

In the sun: on a pallet, string or skewers

Drying time: 3-10 days
To get delicious dried apples using this drying recipe, it is important to figure out how to properly cut the fruits, how to decompose them, how long it will take. This is the oldest and most convenient way to prepare dried fruits. Thus, fruits are dried in areas in hot climates. In autumn, this method is used very rarely, since the number of warm days is reduced, and the fruits do not have time to dry completely. It is suitable for harvesting summer varieties of apples.

For harvesting, the fruits are cut into very thin slices and laid out on pallets or baking sheets covered with paper.
In the process of withering, the slices are constantly turned over. For convenience, the workpieces can be strung on a thread or on skewers.
To protect against insects, the fruits are covered with gauze folded in several layers.
You also need to take care of protecting the fruit from moisture. It is unacceptable to be exposed to rain or dew. Do not leave workpieces outdoors on a cloudy day or rainy weather. In this case, they are placed in a warm, dry room.

If all conditions are met, dried fruits are ready to eat in 3 - 4 days. If the workpieces are in the shade, then it will take 7 to 10 days to completely dry. Well-dried fruits are soft, elastic, do not stick to each other. The rind is brown.Summer apples are lighter in color, winter varieties are darker.

What are the benefits of dried apples

The use of apple dryers has a positive effect on the human body:
stimulates the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
lowers blood sugar;
due to the large amount of potassium in the composition, it improves the functioning of the heart and blood vessels;
strengthens bone cells due to calcium;
helps the nervous system;
nourishes the hair with vitamins and improves the appearance of the skin.

Important! Dried apple fruits are recommended for the elderly, as they reduce the risk of malignant tumors and memory impairment.

Dried fruits can be consumed by children and patients with diabetes mellitus in moderation, because these products have a low glycemic index. Therefore, they are also added to the diet of dieters. And in winter, when the immune system suffers from cold weather and seasonal diseases, it is recommended to make infusions of apple cure, honey and lemon.

However, dried apples can be harmful in some cases:
it is undesirable to use them for stomach problems;
after eating apple drying, you need to brush your teeth, since a significant amount of sugar in these products can harm the enamel;
dried apples should be eaten in moderation by overweight people.

How to choose and prepare apples for drying

Good quality ripe fruits are suitable for drying. The better the raw materials, the better the quality will be dried fruits... Do not chase large apples, it is better if they are medium and small in size. The peel of the apples should be thin, the seed box small. Remember that any homework imply cost savings, so there should be as little waste as possible when processing apples.

Which apple varieties are best for drying

It is best to choose sweet and sour autumn varieties, since such apples retain their taste better after drying than sweet ones.

Of foreign varieties, they are best suited gala, fuji and golden delights... Choose from our apples Antonovka, Pepin and Aport.

Gala apples

And yet, if you have tried somewhere tasty and aromatic dried apples, try to find out / find out which variety was used for drying. And use these fruits for your blanks.

How to prepare apples

Remove overripe and spoiled apples and sort by size. If possible, dry apples in batches, where each is a specific variety and size of future chips.
Wash apples, especially if they are purchased and not from your own garden.
You don't need to peel the apples. The peel makes the preparation more aromatic, and no one has canceled its high fiber content.
Cut into slices or circles of equal size and thickness (no more than 5 mm). Choose for yourself whether you have a round chip with seeds or neat wedges. Depending on the choice, remove the box and seeds or not.

Option for slicing apples for drying - circles with a core

The next step is important, but not always mandatory for everyone. Dip the prepared pieces in an acidic anti-browning solution and leave for 10 minutes. You can mix 50 ml of lemon juice and 1 liter of water, or, following the example of foreign chefs and vegans, add pineapple juice there. The latter adds some sweetness to dried apples and neutralizes the acidity of the lemon. You can also use a solution prepared from 2 tbsp. l. ascorbic acid and 200 ml of water. Adepts of dried apples recommend the use of a saline solution (100 g of table salt per 12 liters of water). It brightens dried apples and works as a preservative. This method is most often used in villages and dachas, when apples are dried in the sun. The brine will help keep the apples away from insects while drying.
Spread the prepared apples on a cloth, let them dry completely. And only after that start drying.
And finally, apples already ready for drying (again, optional) can be literally powdered (without fanaticism) with ground cinnamon or a mixture of spices for baking apple pie, including nutmeg and allspice.

For drying, apples can be cut and sliced, removing the seed box

What else you need to know about how to dry apples

How to check the readiness of apples

You have dried the apples and now what? First of all, they must be completely cooled. Remember that cookies crunch after cooling a little - the same with dried fruit. Cool apples on baking sheets for about 20-30 minutes.

When the apples have cooled down after drying, rip / break one of the pieces in half. There should be no sap or traces of moisture on the break. The pieces should be dry, not sticky. You can squeeze a piece with your fingers, it should not fall apart from pressing. If you are not satisfied with the dryness, return the apples to the dryer / oven / airfryer.

What properly dried apples should look like

Of course, the skin of the apples should become darker. Do not be confused by the often different color of dried apples. The color of the pulp will depend on the variety, when the fruit was harvested and whether the treatment was with a special solution or not. Winter varieties of apples will be darker, summer varieties lighter, since the latter dry / dry faster. And it is not worth bringing apples to darkening on purpose, all useful substances disappear along with the color.

The color of properly dried apples

How to store dried apples

Place cooled dried apples in containers with airtight lids or plastic ziploc bags. Seal dried apples carefully and store in a cool, dry place.

If you want to slightly develop the topic of healthy lifestyle, put some nuts, dried or sun-dried berries (cranberries and cherries), candied fruits in the same package. And you will have a ready-made snack for any occasion and for an eater of any age.

Some people think plastic is not for dried apples and insist solely on paper bags or boxes. Again, adherents of dried apples put them in fabric bags (most of them in pillowcases) and let them dry for a couple of days at room temperature. Then they are packaged in smaller bags and sent for long-term storage.

The most correct way to store apples after drying is in bags and sacks made of natural fabric

How long can dried apples be stored?

If dried apples are well sealed and stored in a cool, dry place, they can be stored for about 6 months. Store them in the freezer for longer storage.

Variety selection

The choice of fruits for dried fruits has several features. Apples must be large, with a small seed box. It is recommended to use fruits with a thin skin.

Summer varieties are sweeter, so drying from them is obtained with a slight sweet aftertaste.

Acidic varieties lose acid in the process, so you can safely use them. The most popular varieties of apples for making dried fruits are Antonovka, Pepin.